A Chat with Leigh Bortins of Classical Conversations

Leigh Bortins is a nationally acclaimed educator, perhaps best known for her ability to demystify the fundamental tools of learning. As a teacher, author and commentator, Leigh is credited with helping to launch the “home-centered learning” education movement. She has written several books including:

The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Home-Centered Education

Echo in Celebration: A Call to Home-Centered Education

The Foundations Program: A Classical Curriculum (a teaching guide)

The Essentials of English Language Guide (a teaching guide for language arts from the classical perspective).

Leigh is the founder and CEO of Classical Conversations Inc., an organization that models classical, home-centered education to empower learners of all ages. She trains facilitators dedicated to duplicating her methods, and is thereby transforming education and improving the quality of family and community life. Classical Conversations is nearly doubling in size and scope each year.

Hello Leigh! What initially drew you to the classical education model? Did you always follow this approach with your children or transition to it over time?Leigh - My husband and I have always educated our four boys at home. With our first two sons, we took a modern education approach, studying all the “right” subjects in the correct sequence—math, the sciences, English, etc. Then, we noticed that when we would tried to read the great works of literature and history, we all struggled with the meaning of the words. We wanted our family to have access to these works that high school students used to read, so we began to search for a new plan. Our search led us to the classical model as a time-tested method of using the skills of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric to study anything. We learned that classical education always leads to high literacy.

What is the most important benefit that you hope children and families will receive through Classical Conversations?

Leigh - As I work with families across the country, the most important thing for them to know is that they can be their child’s best teacher. I want to help families uncover the tools of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric (just like our family did) so that they can join in the great conversations of history. It is exciting to see families across the country reading and discussing Shakespeare, philosophy, logic, economics, and American government. The communities offer support to one another and foster a real love of learning and of wrestling with big ideas.

Tell us a little of what readers will find in your upcoming column, The Classical Homeschooler.

Leigh - In my column this year, I will explain the tools of a classical education—grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric—so that other families may begin to use these skills at home. I will focus on applying these tools to all areas of core knowledge such as math, writing, geography, and the fine arts. These articles will demonstrate how to study any subject classically with any age of student. I am excited to share some of the things I have learned after twenty years of homeschooling my own boys.

Be sure to check out the other featured columnists during the Schoolhouse Birthday Bash blog hop this week held at the Homeschooling with Heart blog!

Giveaway Time!

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One-Year Digital Subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine

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Leigh has recently been added to my favorite author list, too. The Core has changed my way of doing a lot of our education at home. I didn't realize you were director of a CC group. Do you ever slow down? I am enjoying our first year of somewhat modified Classical Conversations at home.